Get Out The Vote Final Posters

Poster designs are finally done! I'm more than happy with the first one. It took many trials to find just the right color combination, but I think the blue and green give the right mood. Plus, I always love me some Futura Bold, mmmm. I'm still not sold on the second one. The texture looks cool and was fun to work with, but it just seems a little boring. Also, I don't think the wording choice is incredibly complex, but it gets the message across.

Get Out The Vote Motion Graphic

Here it is. My first try in After Effects. Simple, but overall I'm content.

Reading #4

I am a design major, not a business major. There is good reason for this. Issues dealing with the complex inner workings of companies and businesses have of no interest to me. I'm sure many designers feel this way. It sucks some of the fun out of our creative jobs. However, designers must come to realize that discovery and client expertise will substantially help to further the success of design work. It will lead to more effective, better organized designs. And, frankly, if this is the case, then I will gladly put in the work.

Do we as designers have the skills needed to fully and independently handle audience and content? Do we have the knowledge to perform our own research or is it necessary to collaborate with a team of marketers?

Chip Kidd is God

As if Chip Kidd needed to get any cooler, apparently he has a band called Artbreak whose wicked cool video I just ran across. Even the name of the band is awesome. This song is going to be stuck in my head the rest of the day. And I need to learn that cool little wiggle move he does towards the end.

Artbreak: myspace page

Why America is Fucked

A story about a sign and a warning to never use Ebay while drunk. Featuring designer Aaron Drapling.

Blog: his daily blog
Draplin Design Co: website showing some of his great work

Matte Stephens

Matte Stephens is a painter based out of Portland. Connections to design work of the fifties and sixties are obvious. This is because he lists Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson as major influences. I'm always drawn to the color palettes he works with as well as the personality brought through in all his pieces. And I love the expressive teardrop shapes he consistently uses. Plus, I really love the spelling of his name.

Blog: his blog
Matte Stephens: homepage
Matte Stephens Interview: a really great interview from Grain Edit

Karen Davison

California based artist, Karen Davison, draws these portraits that I love. There is something about her style that I constantly strive to emulate in my design work. It's humorous, strange and horribly fascinating.

Karen Davison: homepage

Take a Break

Although I enjoy endless work as much as the next person, I find that I work best on projects if I take the occasional break. While sometimes this involves a nap or a good little cry in the corner, it most often calls for visiting and catching up on my favorite blogs. The one that cheers me up the most is Neatorama. With posts including strange news stories, interesting videos, useless information, occasional artwork and more, it never fails to make me feel a little bit better about life.

Neatorama: check it out

Reading #2 Question

If human beings have numerous ways of absorbing and understanding information, how do we as designers strive to communicate effectively and evenly with all learning types?

Get Out The Vote Mood Board

Get Out The Vote Key Terms & Associated Word List

start: verb & noun

1. to begin a course of journey

2. to begin an activity or undertaking

3. to cause to leave a place of concealment

4. to cause to move, act or operate

nec·es·sary: adjective & noun

1. of an inevitable nature; inescapable

2. logically unavoidable

3. absolutely needed; required

near·ing: verb

1. to come close or closer to

2. to draw near or nearer, approach

word list:
today, present, now, right away, imperative, mandatory, essential, necessary, needed, required, vital, important, big, major, meaningful, significant, substantial, active, alive, effectual, viable, productive, thriving, change, alteration, difference, modification, remaking, revision, recast, better, surpass, improve, enhance, enrich, meliorate, hope, anticipate, await, count on, depend on, rely on, possibility, potential, conceivable, imaginable, plausible, thinkable, achievable, attainable, doable, feasible, turn out, pan out, prove, develop, emerge, evolve, unfold, surface, debut, arise, break out, appear, surface, emanate, fresh, begin, start, launch, outset, threshold, emergence, activate, open, strike, forward, enter, proceed, impact, affect, effect, impress, influence, touch, stir, inspire, engage, interest, afflict, agitate, encourage, animate, enliven, invigorate, boost, energize, excite, provoke, rally, stimulate, future, approaching, forthcoming, nearing, oncoming

Get Out The Vote Final Story

In 2004, 20.1 million 18 – 29 year-olds voted, a 4.3 million jump over 2000. The turnout increase among the youngest voters was more than double that of any other age group.

Research of today’s youth shows that young people are actively following politics and election news even closer than in 2004. This gives strong hope and possibility to making this year’s young voter turnout even higher than the previous election. Today’s youth vote is making major impact. It’s a good thing, too. Health care, jobs and economy, energy and environment. Right now, these just seem like issues we will have to deal with later in life. But in the mere four years that it takes our new president’s term to end, our lives will just be starting. We will be beginning our career, buying our first house, starting a family, paying off college debt…Right now, we hold the power to decide the world in which we start our adult lives. In four years, where will you be?